Mary O’Donnell has been publishing novels, short stories and poetry since 1990 and her work is regarded as key in expanding the horizons of Ireland’s traditionally male-dominated literary world. ‘The Light Makers’, Mary’s debut best-selling novel, received the Sunday Tribune’s Best New Irish Novel 1992 Award and her other published novels include ‘The Elysium Testament’ and ‘Where They Lie’. Her most recent and highly praised collection of short stories, ‘Walking Ghosts’ was published in 2025.

Mary has taught Creative Writing at the universities of Galway, Maynooth, University College Dublin and University College Cork, as well as for the University of São Paulo. She has also held several prominent international writing residencies including at the Princess Grace Irish Library Monaco, the Irish College in Paris, and the Irish College in Leuven and she is a member of Ireland’s affiliation of artists, Aosdána.

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Sweep the Cobwebs off the Sky, Mary's latest novel, will be published in March 2026.